A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
SATURDAY.--I am almost a whole day old, now. I arrived yesterday. That is as it seems to me. And it must be so, for if there was a day-before-yesterday I was not there when it happened, or I should remember it. It could be, of course, that it did happen, and that I was not noticing.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “It could be, of course, that it did happen, and that I was not noticing.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “It could be, of course, that it did happen, and that I was not noticing.”
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading “And it must be so, for if there was a day-before-yesterday I was not there when it happened, or I should remember it.”
To recall to mind.
From this reading “And it must be so, for if there was a day-before-yesterday I was not there when it happened, or I should remember it.”
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading SATURDAY.--I am almost a whole day old, now.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SATURDAY.--I am almost a whole day old, now.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading SATURDAY.--I am almost a whole day old, now.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And it must be so, for if there was a day-before-yesterday I was not there when it happened, or I should remember it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I arrived yesterday.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading That is as it seems to me.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading And it must be so, for if there was a day-before-yesterday I was not there when it happened, or I should remember it.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It could be, of course, that it did happen, and that I was not noticing.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It could be, of course, that it did happen, and that I was not noticing.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SATURDAY.--I am almost a whole day old, now.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And it must be so, for if there was a day-before-yesterday I was not there when it happened, or I should remember it.
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It could be, of course, that it did happen, and that I was not noticing.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And it must be so, for if there was a day-before-yesterday I was not there when it happened, or I should remember it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It could be, of course, that it did happen, and that I was not noticing.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And it must be so, for if there was a day-before-yesterday I was not there when it happened, or I should remember it.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading SATURDAY.--I am almost a whole day old, now.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading And it must be so, for if there was a day-before-yesterday I was not there when it happened, or I should remember it.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That is as it seems to me.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading That is as it seems to me.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading That is as it seems to me.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading And it must be so, for if there was a day-before-yesterday I was not there when it happened, or I should remember it.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading And it must be so, for if there was a day-before-yesterday I was not there when it happened, or I should remember it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It could be, of course, that it did happen, and that I was not noticing.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SATURDAY.--I am almost a whole day old, now.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It could be, of course, that it did happen, and that I was not noticing.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SATURDAY.--I am almost a whole day old, now.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading And it must be so, for if there was a day-before-yesterday I was not there when it happened, or I should remember it.
To recall to mind.
From this reading And it must be so, for if there was a day-before-yesterday I was not there when it happened, or I should remember it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SATURDAY.--I am almost a whole day old, now.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That is as it seems to me.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading And it must be so, for if there was a day-before-yesterday I was not there when it happened, or I should remember it.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading And it must be so, for if there was a day-before-yesterday I was not there when it happened, or I should remember it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That is as it seems to me.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And it must be so, for if there was a day-before-yesterday I was not there when it happened, or I should remember it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading That is as it seems to me.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And it must be so, for if there was a day-before-yesterday I was not there when it happened, or I should remember it.
at the time that
From this reading And it must be so, for if there was a day-before-yesterday I was not there when it happened, or I should remember it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SATURDAY.--I am almost a whole day old, now.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I arrived yesterday.
